Improvement in steam-engine valves



UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIGE.

WM. A. L. KIRK, OF HAMILTON, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN STEAM-ENGINE VALVES.

Specication forming part of Letters Patent No. 57,518, dated August 28,1866.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that 1, WILLIAM A. L. KIRK, ofHamilton, Butler county, State of Ohio, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Valves Jfor Steam-Engines and l do hereby declarethe following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of thisspecification'.

My invention relates to the class ot' steamengine valves known as rotaryvalves, rotating on their seats, and having suitable ports for theadmission and escape of steam and it consists, in the iirst part, in soarranging the ports of the valve or valves and seats that the valve orvalves may have a continuous rotary motion in one direction only and ata greater or less velocity than the engine-shaft.

My invention further consists in the attachment of a stationary yetadjustable valve or valves in connection with the rotary or main valveor valves, whose oftice is to out off the steam at any point ofthestroke desired.

This maybe operated by the governor or adjusted by hand.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a cross-section ot' the valvesand seat on the line X X of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section.Figs. 3 and 4 are perspective views ot' the main and cut-ott' valves,respectively. Fig. 5 is a cross-section on line XX, with the main valverotated to a dierent position to Fig. l. Fig. 6 is a modification of myinvention.

A is the valve-shell, provided with conical seat, as shown, chamber Bfor the admission of steam, chamber O for the discharge of the same, andannular ports D E for the passage of steam to and from the cylindersalternately.

The annular ports D E communicate with the interior of the shell byports F G, alternating in position, so that the ports F may, by

means hereinafter described, communicate with the supply While the portsG are in communication with the exhaust.

H is the main valve, fitting the seat of the shell, as shown, andadapted to be revolved by shaft H at one-fourth the velocity ot' theengine-shaft. By constructing the valves and seats with a greater numberof ports in the periphery than the one shown in the drawings the speedof the valve may be operated at a still less velocity. Y

The valve H is provided with four exhaustports, I, not communicatingwith its interior, but traversing nearly the whole length of thevalve-face and opening into chamber C, as fully shown in Fig. 3. In therevolution of the valve these ports are brought into communication withthe ports F G for the alternate escape of steam from the cylinder.

The valve H is also provided with steamports J K for the passage ofsupply-steam to the ports D E alternately.

Lis the cut-oli' valve, iittedtS Shown, in the interior of valve H, andcommunicating by its open end with the chamber B. Itsports M N agree insize and number with the ports J K ot' the valve H, yet alternate inposition, so that the ports J may be opened for the admission otl steamto port D, while the ports K are closed for the escape of steam fromport E.`

By the simple Ypartial rotation of valve L on its seat either by hand orby means of governor attachment on the lever O, the steam can be cntoil' at any point in the stroke ot' the piston, while the exhaust isalways free.

The ports D E communicate with the ends of the engine-cylinder by theordinary side ports.

In cases where long cylinder-passages are undesirable a separate chamberand valves may be attached to each end of the cylinder, having, ofcourse, only a single annular port, D .or E, and single set of ports toeach.

In Fig. 6 the same letters of reference refer to equivalent parts in thepreceding figures. The shell A Ais cylindrical in place of couical, andthe ports of the valves are in a plane at right angles to the axis, thecut-ofi valve L being doubleV faced and operated .by any suitablemechanism working tightly through the case.

I claim herein as new and of my inventionl. The combination of thevalve-chamber A and continuously-revolving valve H, provided with ports,substantially as described, and for the purpose specied.

2. The combination of the cut-ofic valveL with the chamber A, valve H,and its ports, constructed and operating substantially as and for thepurpose specified.

In testimony of which invention I hereunto set my hand.

WM. A. L. KIRK.

Witnesses:

GEO. H. KNIGHT, JAMES H. LAYMAN.

